Akira's shortlist of actors include Robert Pattinson, Andrew Garfield, Michael Fassbender, Joaquin Phoenix, and more

There was a rumor going around back in November that Zac Efron was up for one of the lead roles in AKIRA, the live-action adaptation of the beloved manga series. Naturally, heads began exploding across the Internet by the mere suggestion. But thankfully, the rumor never came to pass.

Speaking of hyperbole, just last month Vulture was reporting that the project may have become doomed after nearly 50-year-old Brad Pitt passed on the role of teenager Kaneda. Uh-huh.

You need not worry, AKIRA fans. The film is alive and well and ready for an August start date now that the studio and the Hughes Brothers (THE BOOK OF ELI) have received a fresh script rewrite from Steve Kloves (the HARRY POTTER films, WONDER BOYS) that has them all very excited. That script, in fact, has been sent out to the studio's shortlist of actors that are reportedly up for the two lead roles of Tetsuo and Kaneda.

For Tetsuo, the names are Robert Pattinson, Andrew Garfield, and James McAvoy. For Kaneda, it's Garrett Hedlund, Michael Fassbender, Chris Pine, Justin Timberlake, and Joaquin Phoenix.

Deadline says the two leads will come from that group of actors. Sorry, Zac.